Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Following the completion of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup regular season it is straight back to the Top 14. The premier French clubs are all to take to the field this weekend in what is Week 16. As always there is to be involvement of players from the Americas.
Week 16 will open with Toulon at home to Bordeaux. Coming off of the Champions Cup combined with the Six Nations quickly approaching sees changes. Toulon, nonetheless, will have two Americas players involved. Named on the bench are USA enforcer Samu Manoa and former Pumas captain Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe.
Toulouse are not the power of old but the development going on at the club suggests they will be back among the best overtime. A side packed with young French talent hosts Oyonnax this weekend. Starting on the left wing for Oyonnax will be Axel Müller. The 2016 Argentine Olympian has been in excellent form as of late.
The scrum battle between Lyon and Agen will be interesting for Argentine fans. Indeed Francisco Gómez Kodela and Facundo Bosch are to both start the match up front. Gómez Kodela will be Lyon’s Tight Head while Bosch starts at hooker for Agen. On the bench for Agen will be former Pumas fly half Ignacio Mieres in addition to the USA eligible Dave Ryan.
Eliminated from the Champions Cup seems to not be of any concern to Castres. Instead the Top 14 is what the club is focused on. They have to make-do without captain Rodrigo Capó Ortega who is playing for Uruguay vs Canada in Vancouver on Saturday. Also involved in that game is Taylor Paris. As such both miss out on facing Racing 92.
The visitors from Paris have named three Pumas in their line-up to take-on Castres. Back from suspension to play right wing is Juan Imhoff. He is joined in the run-on team by Patricio Albacete. The veteran of Rugby World Cups 2003, 2007 and 2011 is to make his first start for the club. Albacete’s 2011 second-row teammate, Manuel Carizza will play from the bench.
Week 16 will conclude on Sunday with two matches. Stade Français host Pau while Clermont are at home against Montpellier. Teams for these fixtures are due to be announced on Saturday afternoon.
